Archaeopteryx The name Archaeopteryx means ‘ancient wing’, and this animal may be the most famous fossil find of all time. Archaeopteryx was thought to have been the first known bird until the discovery of Protoavis in 1986. It was larger than a crow and had sharp teeth, a long bony tail and three clawed fingers. Although Archaeopteryx could probably fly a few feet, it was not capable of flight like a true bird. Archaeopteryx lived in the Late Jurassic period, and specimens have been found in limestone deposits in Bavaria, West Germany. The first specimen was discovered in 1861, and since then six skeletons have been found.

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